Rep. Linehan, Danielle Palladino of Rep. Linehan's office, and Louise DiCocco from the Connecticut Business and Industry Association during a tour of Marion Manufacturing Company in Cheshire

I am pleased to announce that I have organized a small business panel discussion regarding economic development in the area, and would like to invite small businesses and other community stakeholders to participate in it.

The discussion is tentatively slated for December 19, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cheshire Town Hall in the Council Chambers, located at 84 S. Main St.

The panel is meant to drive policy ideas to continue the General Assembly’s pro small business trajectory from the previous session and make Connecticut more conducive to small business’s success.During the 2018 Session, the Legislature passed 10 pro small business bills to facilitate commerce in the state and region.

During the panel’s first hour, small business owners and industry experts will discuss economic development, advice and resources available to small business owners to expand their businesses, and how Connecticut can create a more favorable climate for business development and sustainability. The second hour will be dedicated to public comment on commercial growth in the region and state.

I will be joined by Sheila Hummel, Business Development Program Manager of the Small Business Express Program at the State Department of Economic and Community Development.

Additional experts will be named closer to the event, and this page will be updated as more information develops.

Seats on the panel are limited and will be available on a first-come basis. Business owners who are not on the panel are invited to attend the event and speak to their experiences setting up shop and working in Connecticut.

To apply for selection on the panel, click here to access the application.